Resident may sue North Canton over legal matter

City Council’s decision to hire a law firm to provide legal services could face a court challenge.

City Council’s decision to hire a law firm to provide legal services could face a court challenge.

A lawyer representing city resident Charles Osborne told council there could be a lawsuit if the agreement between the city and the Morrow & Meyer law firm isn’t changed.

Osborne has argued to council that he believes the agreement violates the city’s charter. In a letter sent to the city Thursday, Osborne’s lawyer — Alyssa Keeny of Solon — contends the agreement “violates several provisions” of the charter.

Council approved a service agreement with Morrow & Meyer at the end of January. Under the agreement, Hans Nilges was designated as law director, a position he has had for two years. City officials said they didn’t have to seek bids on a service contract.

Instead of paying Nilges a salary and benefits, the city is paying $50,000 to Morrow & Meyer. The firm will provide legal services for 20 hours per week, as opposed to the 16 hours per week Nilges was working.

The agreement was an attempt to improve the city’s access to legal services, while reducing costs, said Council President Jon Snyder, Ward 4. There was an immediate savings of about $7,000 for the year, and the possibility of additional savings because the city won’t have to seek outside assistance on some cases, Snyder said.

Nilges, who works for Morrow & Meyer, recommended the city hire the firm, and said he’s confident the charter permits the arrangement.

Council members sought a second opinion from Paul Pusateri, a former city law director. Pusateri supported the move, Snyder said, adding that the city has retained law firms in the past.

“We thoroughly vetted it, I think,” Snyder said.

Keeny contends council improperly passed the ordinance as an emergency and failed to seek bids for the work. Council also tried to circumvent the city’s charter by naming Nilges as law director while outsourcing the work to his law firm, she wrote.

Keeny wants Nilges to “remedy the recent violations” and respond by March 9.

Nilges said he is working on a response. He called the complaint another example of Osborne wasting North Canton taxpayers’ money.

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